Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) A person who, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, has discovered that a substance that is or becomes a prescribed substance, or minerals containing a substance that is or becomes a prescribed substance, occurs or occur at any place in Australia shall report that discovery by notice in writing to the Minister within one month after:
(a) the commencement of this Act;
(b) the date of the making of the discovery; or
(c) the date on which the substance becomes a prescribed substance;
whichever is the latest.
(a) in the case of a natural person--20 penalty units; or
(b) in the case of a body corporate--100 penalty units.
(2) Subsection (1) does not require a person to report a discovery that he or she has reported to a Minister before the commencement of this Act.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (3), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code .
(4) An offence against subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability , see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code .